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Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Causes (and Fixes) for Dry Skin

Your skin is your body's defense against the elements. Sun, wind and cold can leave skin dry and itchy, but you don't need to hide it, just replenish it.

Winter Weather - when the temperature drops so does the humidity level. The dryer the air, the more parched the skin. Turing up the heat doesn't help...indoor heating strips even more moisture from the air - and your skin. FIX: Install a humidifier in your home to keep air moist. Set humidity at a constant 45% to 55%, and the temperature at a balmy 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Steamy Showers - it may soothe your body, but it won't do your skin any favors...it dries out the natural oils in your skin more quickly. Standing under that hot spray long enough to belt out your favorite tune is also a no-no. The longer you linger in the shower, the more you dry out your skin.FIX: Dial down the shower temperature to lukewarm, and keep showers short. Five minutes is enough to get clean without over-drying. Save the singing for your car.

Moisture-Robbing Soaps - Don't put just any bar of soap into your shower dish -- they're not all the same. Wash with a harsh soap and you'll send your skin's natural moisture barrier straight down the drain. FIX: Use a mild, fragrance-free soap that moisturizes as it cleanses.

The Rub-Down - You don't need to scrub to get your skin clean. Toss that old notion, along with your scrubby sponge. Frictions strips the skin and enhances the dryness. FIX: Use you hands or a soft washcloth. They will get your skin just as clean without roughing up your skin.

The Towel Rub-down - When drying off, pat your skin gently. Drying completely strips away the moisture your shower left on your skin. FIX: Leave skin a little moist, and then apply a moisturizing lotion while the skin is still damp to seal in that moisture. Lotions and creams containing ingredients such as soothing ceramide for sensitive skin, or urea, lactic acid or dimethicone for very dry skin will make a big difference. You might want to try Cuccio Naturale products.

Aging - as hormone levels change over the years, skin becomes parched and thin. FIX: you can't turn back time, but you can minimize aging skin changes. Start each morning with a generous rub of a rich face and body cream. To minimize wrinkles while you relieve dryness, look for ingredients such as alpha-hydroxy acids and retinol. Hempz Age Defying Herbal Body Moisturizer is a great one!

2 comments:

I have extremely dry skin. It seems as soon as I put on a moisturizer it is totally absorbed and my skin looks dry again. I can handle all of these but I do have a concern about the flakiness that I have, especially on my legs. Should I still exfoliate or just use the alpha-hydroxy lotion?